ITV Saturday Night Theatre

ITV Saturday Night Theatre

Continuing First aired 11/Jan/1969 United Kingdom English 6 season(s) 191 episode(s)
Anthology series of dramatic works.

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TimeScore 33% Skip It
Binge Meter 48% Slow Burn
Episode Pulse Quiet 40% activity score
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Seasons & Episodes

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Season 6 · Season 6
9 episode(s) · Air date: 16/Sep/1973
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Season Overview

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S6E9
Conflict
Air date: 20/Mar/1978 · Runtime: 60 min
Summary

Set in Ireland where the Catholic Church has been superseded by a repressive order with new ideas. When a group of Irish monks rebel, a Vatican official is sent to bring order once more.

Summary

Set in Ireland where the Catholic Church has been superseded by a repressive order with new ideas. When a group of Irish monks rebel, a Vatican official is sent to bring order once more.

S6E2
Hopcraft Into Europe
Air date: 23/Sep/1973
Summary

A bored and frustrated Englishman leaves his fiancee and takes his model airplane business to France. There, he is immediately contacted by a beautiful, mysterious Frenchwoman who teaches English, and whose son is a Maoist revolutionary.

Summary

A bored and frustrated Englishman leaves his fiancee and takes his model airplane business to France. There, he is immediately contacted by a beautiful, mysterious Frenchwoman who teaches English, and whose son is a Maoist revolutionary.

Season 5 · Season 5
32 episode(s) · Air date: 01/Oct/1972
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S5E20
Long Day's Journey Into Night
Air date: 22/Apr/1973 · Runtime: 60 min
Summary

On a day in the summer of 1912, the family of retired matinee idol James Tyrone grapples with the morphine addiction of Tyrone's wife Mary, the illness of their youngest son Edmund, and the alcoholism and debauchery of the older son Jamie. As day turns into night, guilt, anger, despair, and regret threaten to destroy the family.

Summary

On a day in the summer of 1912, the family of retired matinee idol James Tyrone grapples with the morphine addiction of Tyrone's wife Mary, the illness of their youngest son Edmund, and the alcoholism and debauchery of the older son Jamie. As day turns into night, guilt, anger, despair, and regret threaten to destroy the family.

S5E18
A.D.A.M.
Air date: 08/Apr/1973 · Runtime: 60 min
Summary

Roger Empson builds a house for his disabled wife Jean that is completely automated and monitored by a computer called A.D.A.M. (Automated Domestic Appliance Monitor). When she was a child, Jean had imagined that her dolls used to love her. Now, events take a nasty turn when Jean starts imagining that A.D.A.M. is falling in love with her.

Summary

Roger Empson builds a house for his disabled wife Jean that is completely automated and monitored by a computer called A.D.A.M. (Automated Domestic Appliance Monitor). When she was a child, Jean had imagined that her dolls used to love her. Now, events take a nasty turn when Jean starts imagining that A.D.A.M. is falling in love with her.

S5E13
The Death of Adolf Hitler
Air date: 07/Jan/1973 · Runtime: 60 min
Summary

The final days in the Bunker, with Hitler becoming more and more paranoid, plumbing the depths of his madness and reaching his well deserved fate.

Summary

The final days in the Bunker, with Hitler becoming more and more paranoid, plumbing the depths of his madness and reaching his well deserved fate.

Season 4 · Season 4
30 episode(s) · Air date: 05/Sep/1971
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Season Overview

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S4E28
Before Paris
Air date: 30/Jul/1972
Summary

Ruth and John bump into each other on a holiday after 25 years apart. Ruth remembers their romance together as being one of the biggest influences on her life while John seems to have trouble remembering anything about it.

Summary

Ruth and John bump into each other on a holiday after 25 years apart. Ruth remembers their romance together as being one of the biggest influences on her life while John seems to have trouble remembering anything about it.

S4E27
Last Year's Confetti
Air date: 23/Jul/1972
Summary

Recently married Jenny asks her mother Rosa advice about the unhappiness she feels, but her mother cannot offer any solace as she reveals she has also been unhappily married.

Summary

Recently married Jenny asks her mother Rosa advice about the unhappiness she feels, but her mother cannot offer any solace as she reveals she has also been unhappily married.

S4E20
Ben Spray
Air date: 04/Jun/1972
Summary

Ben Spray is a fantasist who tries to impress people with outrageous tales of his life. His girlfriend's flatmate, Louise asks him come to a Bonfire Party, exposing himself as the fool but she is lonely and desperate which scares him.

Summary

Ben Spray is a fantasist who tries to impress people with outrageous tales of his life. His girlfriend's flatmate, Louise asks him come to a Bonfire Party, exposing himself as the fool but she is lonely and desperate which scares him.

S4E19
The Last Journey
Air date: 09/Apr/1972
Summary

The story of the last days in the life of the great writer Leo Tolstoy, whose passionate concern for the people of Russia began to destroy his relationship with his wife Sonya.

Summary

The story of the last days in the life of the great writer Leo Tolstoy, whose passionate concern for the people of Russia began to destroy his relationship with his wife Sonya.

S4E12
Another Sunday and Sweet F.A.
Air date: 09/Jan/1972 · Runtime: 60 min
Summary

Mr. Armistead is the referee for an amateur league Sunday Football match. Disliked and abused by all the players he tries to play fair and ensure they follow the rules. By the end of the match he's had enough and really uses his head to show them that he's not as useless as they all think.

Summary

Mr. Armistead is the referee for an amateur league Sunday Football match. Disliked and abused by all the players he tries to play fair and ensure they follow the rules. By the end of the match he's had enough and really uses his head to show them that he's not as useless as they all think.

S4E7
The Birthday Run
Air date: 05/Dec/1971
Summary

The Clarke's ideal holiday is cycling together in the country, but now find their happy world is starting to disappear under heavy traffic and roadworks.

Summary

The Clarke's ideal holiday is cycling together in the country, but now find their happy world is starting to disappear under heavy traffic and roadworks.

Season 3 · Season 3
33 episode(s) · Air date: 10/Oct/1970
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S3E32
Giants and Ogres
Air date: 22/Aug/1971
Summary

On learning of the death of his ex-wife, American businessman Sam Dirk arranges to meet Daniel - the son he has never known. Sam's attempts at reconciliation seem doomed as Daniel doesn't seem to want to know his father.

Summary

On learning of the death of his ex-wife, American businessman Sam Dirk arranges to meet Daniel - the son he has never known. Sam's attempts at reconciliation seem doomed as Daniel doesn't seem to want to know his father.

S3E30
Hamlet
Air date: 08/Aug/1971
Summary

Hamlet suspects his uncle has murdered his father to claim the throne of Denmark and the hand of Hamlet's mother, but the prince cannot decide whether or not he should take vengeance.

Summary

Hamlet suspects his uncle has murdered his father to claim the throne of Denmark and the hand of Hamlet's mother, but the prince cannot decide whether or not he should take vengeance.

S3E27
After a Lifetime
Air date: 18/Jul/1971
Summary

The death of 64-year-old engineer Billy Scully leads his two adult sons to reflect on another side of their father, his lifelong political commitment as an activist and trade unionist.

Summary

The death of 64-year-old engineer Billy Scully leads his two adult sons to reflect on another side of their father, his lifelong political commitment as an activist and trade unionist.

S3E22
Paper Roses
Air date: 13/Jun/1971 · Runtime: 60 min
Summary

Facing retirement, elderly journalist Clarence Hubbard reflects on the pointlessness of a life wasted writing banal tabloid human interest, animal, and crime stories. Rather than go quietly to tend roses in a garden, Hubbard begins a series of violent actions not unlike those described in tabloids, and this is heightened by inter cutting tabloid headlines between scenes. Throughout, there are occasional shots of a television critic who watches this very play as it unfolds, and he writes a negative review filled with cleverly phrased but bitter invective.

Summary

Facing retirement, elderly journalist Clarence Hubbard reflects on the pointlessness of a life wasted writing banal tabloid human interest, animal, and crime stories. Rather than go quietly to tend roses in a garden, Hubbard begins a series of violent actions not unlike those described in tabloids, and this is heightened by inter cutting tabloid headlines between scenes. Throughout, there are occasional shots of a television critic who watches this very play as it unfolds, and he writes a negative review filled with cleverly phrased but bitter invective.

S3E17
Arms and the Man
Air date: 04/Apr/1971
Summary

1865: Swiss captain Bluntschli fights as mercenary in the war between Bulgaria and Serbia. When his group's attacked by a few Bulgarian troopers, he learns that he's got the wrong ammunition for his cannon and has to flee. His flight leads him right into the bedroom of his enemy's fiancée.

Summary

1865: Swiss captain Bluntschli fights as mercenary in the war between Bulgaria and Serbia. When his group's attacked by a few Bulgarian troopers, he learns that he's got the wrong ammunition for his cannon and has to flee. His flight leads him right into the bedroom of his enemy's fiancée.

S3E16
The Price
Air date: 28/Mar/1971
Summary

A family convenes after the death of the father. Two brothers and their mother come to terms with the sacrifices and misunderstandings they have carried since the children left home.

Summary

A family convenes after the death of the father. Two brothers and their mother come to terms with the sacrifices and misunderstandings they have carried since the children left home.

S3E9
Tales of Piccadilly: A Room Full of Holes
Air date: 16/Jan/1971
Summary

Pete and Glynis meet in a post office queue for booking long distance phone calls overseas. Their loved ones abroad become less important as they both discover they have a mutual appreciation of Rembrandt.

Summary

Pete and Glynis meet in a post office queue for booking long distance phone calls overseas. Their loved ones abroad become less important as they both discover they have a mutual appreciation of Rembrandt.

S3E8
Tales of Piccadilly: Behind the Spearmint Sign
Air date: 09/Jan/1971
Summary

Private investigator Harry is find his life & work involving debt collection and the like boring and humdrum.Then Helen enters his life with an exciting case involving her missing husband.

Summary

Private investigator Harry is find his life & work involving debt collection and the like boring and humdrum.Then Helen enters his life with an exciting case involving her missing husband.

S3E7
The Dead
Air date: 02/Jan/1971
Summary

Its Christmas 1901, and a group of Dubliners make their annual call on Granny Morkan's island. As the music and wine flows Gabriel's initial contentment with his wife Gretta changes as he realizes his wife's mind is far away thinking about one of the departed just remembered by all - but which one?

Summary

Its Christmas 1901, and a group of Dubliners make their annual call on Granny Morkan's island. As the music and wine flows Gabriel's initial contentment with his wife Gretta changes as he realizes his wife's mind is far away thinking about one of the departed just remembered by all - but which one?

S3E5
Roll on Four O'Clock
Air date: 19/Dec/1970 · Runtime: 60 min
Summary

In a city comprehensive school that has low expectations and ambitions, pupil Peter Latimer does not conform to the macho culture, and is labeled a homosexual. This leads to bullying, both by the pupils and by some of the teachers.

Summary

In a city comprehensive school that has low expectations and ambitions, pupil Peter Latimer does not conform to the macho culture, and is labeled a homosexual. This leads to bullying, both by the pupils and by some of the teachers.

Season 2 · Season 2
50 episode(s) · Air date: 06/Sep/1969
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Season Overview

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S2E44
Twelfth Night
Air date: 11/Jul/1970 · Runtime: 60 min
Summary

After a shipwreck, believing her brother has been killed, Viola disguises herself as a boy named Cesario and becomes a courtier to Orsino, who sends her to deliver a message of his love to Olivia, but she falls for the messenger instead.

Summary

After a shipwreck, believing her brother has been killed, Viola disguises herself as a boy named Cesario and becomes a courtier to Orsino, who sends her to deliver a message of his love to Olivia, but she falls for the messenger instead.

S2E39
Married Alive
Air date: 06/Jun/1970
Summary

"Married Alive was a television play written by John Mortimer, that was broadcast on NBC in 1970. "The Colonel" (Robert Culp) is a man claiming to be Liz Jardine's (Diana Rigg) long lost husband who returns after many years and moves into her life.

Summary

"Married Alive was a television play written by John Mortimer, that was broadcast on NBC in 1970. "The Colonel" (Robert Culp) is a man claiming to be Liz Jardine's (Diana Rigg) long lost husband who returns after many years and moves into her life.

S2E36
Lay Down Your Arms
Air date: 23/May/1970 · Runtime: 60 min
Summary

At the time of the 1956 Suez Crisis and the Russian invasion of Hungary, Private Bob Hawk reports to the London Intelligence Office where the strength of Soviet troops is under scrutiny.

Summary

At the time of the 1956 Suez Crisis and the Russian invasion of Hungary, Private Bob Hawk reports to the London Intelligence Office where the strength of Soviet troops is under scrutiny.

S2E19
A Doll's House
Air date: 17/Jan/1970
Summary

Nora Helmer has years earlier committed a forgery in order to save the life of her authoritarian husband Torvald. Now she is being blackmailed lives in fear of her husband's finding out and of the shame such a revelation would bring to his career. But when the truth comes out, Nora is shocked to learn where she really stands in her husband's esteem.

Summary

Nora Helmer has years earlier committed a forgery in order to save the life of her authoritarian husband Torvald. Now she is being blackmailed lives in fear of her husband's finding out and of the shame such a revelation would bring to his career. But when the truth comes out, Nora is shocked to learn where she really stands in her husband's esteem.

S2E17
Suffer Little Children
Air date: 03/Jan/1970
Summary

The popularity of the Prime Minister (Lee Montague) has reached an all time low. Facing a serious economic crisis and with threats to his position, the former Post Office worker undergoes a breakdown and reverts to childhood.

Summary

The popularity of the Prime Minister (Lee Montague) has reached an all time low. Facing a serious economic crisis and with threats to his position, the former Post Office worker undergoes a breakdown and reverts to childhood.

S2E14
Faith and Henry
Air date: 06/Dec/1969
Summary

After the last science lesson of the day at Rivington High School, in St Helens, Lancashire, a young black girl, Faith is joined by a white fellow school pupil, Henry. They strike up a conversation about what they are doing for the evening. Henry persuades Faith to forgo the bus and walk it home instead. They nip to the local shop where Henry picks up his usual weekly order of Lancashire cheese for his family, mum, dad and 3 brothers. What follows is a gentle 1960's ever so innocent multi-racial friendship that was unusual in 1960's St. Helens. They walk around the Sankey canal, get teased by other children with one shouting 'Henry's got a girlfriend' to which Henry comically chases after them before giving up. They climb a local hill where you can see the Welsh hills, Widnes and Bold power station. Henry recites a poem and every feels every so quaint, especially for the industrial north. They return home... new friendships formed.

Summary

After the last science lesson of the day at Rivington High School, in St Helens, Lancashire, a young black girl, Faith is joined by a white fellow school pupil, Henry. They strike up a conversation about what they are doing for the evening. Henry persuades Faith to forgo the bus and walk it home instead. They nip to the local shop where Henry picks up his usual weekly order of Lancashire cheese for his family, mum, dad and 3 brothers. What follows is a gentle 1960's ever so innocent multi-racial friendship that was unusual in 1960's St. Helens. They walk around the Sankey canal, get teased by other children with one shouting 'Henry's got a girlfriend' to which Henry comically chases after them before giving up. They climb a local hill where you can see the Welsh hills, Widnes and Bold power station. Henry recites a poem and every feels every so quaint, especially for the industrial north. They return home... new friendships formed.

S2E13
The Comic
Air date: 29/Nov/1969
Summary

Tod a successful comic, is now being threatened by his own insecurities which are straining the relationships with his wife/writers and his fellow troupe of stooges. It might be about Tony Hancock? but it could be about any comedian.

Summary

Tod a successful comic, is now being threatened by his own insecurities which are straining the relationships with his wife/writers and his fellow troupe of stooges. It might be about Tony Hancock? but it could be about any comedian.

S2E10
Hester Lilly
Air date: 08/Nov/1969
Summary

Muriel Ingram (Faith Brook) takes her friend Beatrice played by (Joan Hickson) into her confidence when she becomes suspicious of her husbands preoccupation with a young innocent looking orphan called Hester Lilly, Hester has arrived from Paris to stay with Robert Ingram the head of a boys boarding school.

Summary

Muriel Ingram (Faith Brook) takes her friend Beatrice played by (Joan Hickson) into her confidence when she becomes suspicious of her husbands preoccupation with a young innocent looking orphan called Hester Lilly, Hester has arrived from Paris to stay with Robert Ingram the head of a boys boarding school.

Season 1 · Series 1
37 episode(s) · Air date: 11/Jan/1969
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S1E37
Fly Away Home
Air date: 23/Aug/1969
Summary

A couple return from their holiday to find their house burnt down. Having no insurance, the husband has no option but to rebuild it himself with the help of local handyman Arthur. Local council bureaucracy hinders all the way.

Summary

A couple return from their holiday to find their house burnt down. Having no insurance, the husband has no option but to rebuild it himself with the help of local handyman Arthur. Local council bureaucracy hinders all the way.

S1E31
Takeover
Air date: 26/Jul/1969
Summary

Suddenly and inexplicably Mother and Father find that their previously well behaved adolescent sons are completely unmanageable, reversing the standard family dynamics.

Summary

Suddenly and inexplicably Mother and Father find that their previously well behaved adolescent sons are completely unmanageable, reversing the standard family dynamics.

S1E30
Salve Regina
Air date: 19/Jul/1969
Summary

In the basement of a department store after the last bomb of World War Three. A bag lady, calls herself ' the queen ' and exercises complete authority over two befuddled men. That is until an astronaut (who was in space when the bomb fell) finds them.

Summary

In the basement of a department store after the last bomb of World War Three. A bag lady, calls herself ' the queen ' and exercises complete authority over two befuddled men. That is until an astronaut (who was in space when the bomb fell) finds them.

S1E26
The Haunting
Air date: 28/Jun/1969
Summary

Young Cathy asks her teacher Kate for help with her father Rolf who is still withdrawn and depressed after his wife's fatal car crash sometime ago. However, the line between fantasy and reality complicates matters.

Summary

Young Cathy asks her teacher Kate for help with her father Rolf who is still withdrawn and depressed after his wife's fatal car crash sometime ago. However, the line between fantasy and reality complicates matters.

S1E17
Steve
Air date: 26/Apr/1969
Summary

Steve's maverick personality costs him his teaching job. He drops out of conventional society and earns a living by roguish means. Then he meets Paula, who makes him question his ideals and life.

Summary

Steve's maverick personality costs him his teaching job. He drops out of conventional society and earns a living by roguish means. Then he meets Paula, who makes him question his ideals and life.

S1E15
Moonlight on the Highway
Air date: 12/Apr/1969 · Runtime: 52 min
Summary

Writing for ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1969), Dennis Potter introduced the notion that popular music expresses the yearning of the human spirit for a better world. A troubled young man, David Peters (Ian Holm), claims, "Once dreams were possible, that's what the popular songs told us." Rejecting rock music of the day, Peters is immersed in the tunes of Thirties crooner Al Bowlly (killed during the London blitz). He collects Bowlly memorabilia, publishes the Bowlly fan-club newsletter, and finds pleasure in lip-synching Bowlly records but his obsession with Bowlly masks certain darker events in his past.

Summary

Writing for ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1969), Dennis Potter introduced the notion that popular music expresses the yearning of the human spirit for a better world. A troubled young man, David Peters (Ian Holm), claims, "Once dreams were possible, that's what the popular songs told us." Rejecting rock music of the day, Peters is immersed in the tunes of Thirties crooner Al Bowlly (killed during the London blitz). He collects Bowlly memorabilia, publishes the Bowlly fan-club newsletter, and finds pleasure in lip-synching Bowlly records but his obsession with Bowlly masks certain darker events in his past.

S1E14
The Dirt on Lucy Lane
Air date: 05/Apr/1969
Summary

Michael Vint, an embittered hack reporter from a Sunday newspaper, is sent down into the country to find a story in the love life of an aging has-been writer and his new glamorous young film star wife. The writer is annoyed about the intrusion into his private life, but his wife sees it as an opportunity.

Summary

Michael Vint, an embittered hack reporter from a Sunday newspaper, is sent down into the country to find a story in the love life of an aging has-been writer and his new glamorous young film star wife. The writer is annoyed about the intrusion into his private life, but his wife sees it as an opportunity.

S1E11
Pig in a Poke
Air date: 15/Mar/1969
Summary

An effete television producer and his beautiful wife move into an old terraced house.In the basement is a sitting tenant they cannot move.The tenant starts to invade their life with increasing voracity, leading to him eventually beating up the young wife and then becoming her afternoon lover.

Summary

An effete television producer and his beautiful wife move into an old terraced house.In the basement is a sitting tenant they cannot move.The tenant starts to invade their life with increasing voracity, leading to him eventually beating up the young wife and then becoming her afternoon lover.

S1E4
MacNeil
Air date: 01/Feb/1969
Summary

Carpenter and widower MacNeil takes a blunt approach in making advances to lady executive Miss Saville who works in the same firm as himself. His belief in his instincts regarding women is contradicted by his daughter Mary, who knows him better than he thinks.

Summary

Carpenter and widower MacNeil takes a blunt approach in making advances to lady executive Miss Saville who works in the same firm as himself. His belief in his instincts regarding women is contradicted by his daughter Mary, who knows him better than he thinks.

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